Description: Polar bear , Ursus maritimus , which means " sea bear " . A large male polar bear searches for a place to dig into the snow and ice to uncover kelp . This is eaten to provide vitamins and minerals and small amounts of protein through crustaceans etc which may be caught in the kelp . Having fasted for 8 months the bears are very hungry while waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze so they can catch Harp Seals .